Student Rights and Responsibilities

Expectations of Student Conduct
Procedures for General and Academic Appeals 
Procedures for Handling Alleged Academic Dishonesty 
Due Process 
Student Records and Privacy 
Rights for Students in the Associate in Arts Degree Program 
Equal Access/Equal Opportunity 
Harassment and Cyber-harassment, Sexual Harassment and Assault 
Other Policies 

Expectations of Student Conduct

Student Discipline Procedures

Florida State College at Jacksonville is dedicated to maintaining an environment which fosters student success. The College endeavors to protect the rights of students and also expects all students to act responsibly.

Attendance at the College is a privilege, and in order to maintain the College ideals of scholarship, character, and personality, the right is reserved by the College to establish rules and regulations to foster these ideals and protect the interest of the College. Each student is subject to federal and state laws, respective county and municipal ordinances, and all rules and regulations of the College.

Violations of published laws, ordinances, or rules and regulations may subject the violator to appropriate disciplinary action by College authorities.

Disciplinary action, unless otherwise provided by law, may include fines, the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with rules or payments of fines and the imposition of probation, suspension, or dismissal. Students shall be afforded due process as defined in Florida State College at Jacksonville District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx7–2.18 prior to the administration of disciplinary action for violation of this rule.

Any act or behavior on the part of the student which tends to impair, interfere with, or otherwise disturb or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, functions, and/or interests of the College is expressly prohibited. Such acts or behavior may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Consumption of alcoholic beverages on campus or at a College function.
2. Illegal use or possession of illegal drugs or narcotics.
3. Cheating in any form.
4. The use of indecent or abusive language.
5. Gambling.
6. Hazing as defined in Chapter 240.326 Florida Statutes.
7. Vandalism or destruction of property.
8. Falsification of records.
9. Unauthorized use of the College name.
10. Lewd or indecent conduct or attire.
11. Violence against any member or guest of the College community.
12. Theft or willful destruction of College property or of the property of members of the College.
13. Interference with the freedom of movement of any member or guest of the College.
14. Obstruction of the normal processes and activities of the College community.
15. Deliberate interference with the rights of others.
16. Violation of federal or state law, or county or city ordinance.
17. Repeated offenses of a less serious nature.
18. Sexual harassment or assault.
19. Accessing, altering or deleting College computer files/systems.
20. Stalking (to repeatedly follow another person so as to put that person in fear for his/her safety).
21. Violation of the Computing Facilities Use Agreement.
22. Any other offense reasonably deemed to be contrary to the best interest of the College.

Student Discipline Procedures

I. Responsibility for Discipline

The campus Dean of Student Success will be responsible for student discipline. All alleged student violations of Board Rules or College regulations will be referred to the appropriate campus Dean of Student Success. Any administrator, faculty member, career employee, student, guest of the College or other College staff person may allege violations against any currently enrolled student.

II. Temporary Order of Suspension

In the case of a violation which clearly disrupts the orderly processes of campus operations or endangers the life of others, the campus Dean of Student Success may issue a temporary order of suspension or removal from the campus in order to protect the best interest of the College. In all cases of temporary suspension or removal from the campus, the student(s) involved shall be requested to remain off College property pending the scheduling of a hearing regarding the charges brought against the student(s) to sign the Temporary Order of Suspension.

The Campus Dean of Student Success or his/her designee shall immediately notify the President and the appropriate Campus President of his/her action of temporary suspension and the Board Rule that allegedly has been violated. The student(s) involved will be notified in writing of a hearing and the nature of the charges. The Notice of Hearing Letter format shall be used to notify the student of the specific charges and the time and place for the hearing.

A written report of the incident and all other pertinent documentation shall be kept on file in the office of the campus Dean of Student Success.

III. Initial Investigation of Discipline Problems

When the campus Dean of Student Success receives information that a student has allegedly violated a Board Rule or other College regulation, the Dean or his/her designee shall investigate the alleged violation(s). After completing the investigation, the dean may:

1. Dismiss the allegation(s) as unfounded, either before or after conferring with the student(s) and/or other parties concerned.
2. Advise the student(s) of his/her rights to an administrative hearing by the campus Dean of Student Success or a campus discipline committee hearing; that formal charges are being filed based upon alleged violations of the specific Board of Trustees Rules and that the witnesses and documentary evidence supporting the allegations will be prepared for use in the disciplinary hearing. Advise the student(s) of their right to have witnesses appear on their behalf.

Any student(s) charged with an offense for which suspension, dismissal or restitution may be warranted shall be provided, by the campus Dean of Student Success to whom the student(s) is/are directly responsible, written notice of the charges and an opportunity to present the student’s version of the controversy before said Dean.

The President shall have authority, after notice to the student of the charge(s) and after a hearing thereon, to expel, suspend or otherwise discipline any student who is found to have violated any rule or regulation of the Board of Trustees or any law or ordinance, the violation of which has an adverse effect on the College. If the campus Dean of Student Success reasonably believes, after a hearing that the charge(s) are accurate, the Dean shall recommend suspension or appropriate sanction of the student to the President together with reasons therefore and appropriate supporting documentation.

The President shall, after a review of the recommendation, notify the student(s) of his decision on the matter. Such notification shall be made by certified mail, return receipt requested and shall be effective immediately unless otherwise specified by the President.

IV. Administrative Hearing

A student may refuse an administrative hearing and elect a hearing before a campus discipline committee. If the student accepts an administrative hearing, he/she shall sign a statement prepared by the campus Dean of Student Success that he/she understands the nature of the charge(s), his/her rights to a hearing, or the rights to waive the same, and accept whatever penalty may be imposed. Minutes shall be kept of the administrative hearing. Written notification of the results shall be furnished, in cases when suspension, dismissal or restitution is recommended, to the student, Campus President, instructor(s), and Registrar, as appropriate.

V. Discipline Committee Hearing

If it is decided that a campus discipline committee hearing will be held, the campus Dean of Student Success will notify the student(s) to appear before the student discipline committee in connection with the alleged charge(s) by sending him/her a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested. The letter shall direct the student(s) to appear at a specific time and place not more than ten class days after the date of the letter. The letter shall also describe briefly the alleged violation(s).

The campus Dean of Student Success will appoint a committee of not fewer than three persons to serve on the disciplinary committee. The committee shall be made up of at least one faculty member, one student and one administrator. The campus Dean of Student Success shall appoint one individual to serve as chairperson for the hearing.

The campus Dean of Student Success will coordinate with the committee chairperson the date, time and place for the hearing as well as to summon witnesses and require the production of documentary evidence.

The proceedings will be tape recorded and copies shall be maintained by the campus Dean of Student Success for a period as prescribed by Florida Statutes.

The hearing shall be informal and the chairperson shall provide reasonable opportunities for witnesses to be heard.

The campus Dean of Student Success shall monitor the proceedings and make every effort to ensure that the student is treated fairly.

If, after the hearing, the committee finds that the alleged charges are true, the committee will recommend an appropriate penalty to the campus Dean of Student Success, who shall decide the penalty to be imposed.

VI. Failure to Comply

Failure of a student to comply, either by telephone or in person, with notification to appear before either an administrative hearing or discipline committee hearing, will result in the charges being deemed to be true. The campus Dean of Student Success may request the discipline committee to commence hearing proceedings and make recommendations, or the campus Dean of Student Success shall recommend an appropriate penalty.

The Student Success Dean may postpone a hearing upon the request of a student so long as all interested parties are notified and agree with the new hearing date, time and place. The campus Dean of Student Success may postpone a hearing for violation of Board Rule due to pending criminal or civil charges.

VII. Penalties

The campus Dean of Student Success may, at the end of an administrative or committee hearing, and based upon the findings, impose the following sanctions upon students:

1. Warning: A notice in writing that continuation or repetition of violation of Board Rule or College rule within a period of time stated in the warning may be cause for more severe disciplinary action. Pursuant to receiving a warning a student may be required to participate in the College’s student assistance program.
2. Disciplinary Probation: This may lead to exclusion from attending or participating in extracurricular institutional activities as set forth on a written notice for a stated period of time. Violation of probation may lead to suspension, or other penalties reasonable to the nature of the violation. Conditions of probation may include mandatory participation in the College’s student assistance program.
3. Restitution: Student shall reimburse the College for damage to or misappropriation of College property. This sanction typically will be combined with another sanction.
4. Suspension: Recommend to the President of the College restrictions from campus, classes and other such privileges and activities, as set forth in the notice, for a definite period of time not to exceed two years. The conditions for readmission, if any, shall be stated in the notification to the student. Conditions of readmission may include mandatory participation in the College’s student assistance program.
5. Dismissal: Recommend to the President of the College dismissal for an indefinite period. The conditions of readmission, if any, shall be stated in the notification to the student. Conditions of readmission may include mandatory participation in the College’s student assistance program.

The Student Discipline Procedures are part of APM 11-0601. The purpose of this APM is to outline the discipline procedures relating to alleged violations of rules as outlined in Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx7-11.1, Students’ Rights and Responsibilities.